Jul. 31, 2018 — On January 27, 2015, the discovery of a Buddhist monk mummified over 200 years ago near the capital of Mongolia stirred both the scientific and religious communities. This extraordinary finding captivates with the monk's remarkably preserved body discovered in the Lotus position, suggesting he may still be in the depths of meditation. A striking situation that testifies to the monks' devotion to meditation—a commitment that endures even beyond death.

How Can We Explain Such Excellent Preservation of the Mummy?

According to specialists who conducted the analysis, the monk's body was preserved from decomposition thanks to the animal hide that covered it for these two centuries. Research suggests this hide came from a cow, camel, or horse. Yet the exceptional preservation of the remains might also stem from the fact that it was doused with a generous quantity of salt before burial.

This mummification process combining salt and animal hide, called "Sokushinbutsu," was actually a common practice among Buddhist monks between the 9th and 19th centuries. When a monk knew death was approaching, he would ask his disciples to mummify him in this manner; then he would begin to meditate.

But Who Is This Mysterious Monk?

The body of the celebrated lama Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov (1852–1927) was discovered under similar circumstances as the 200-year-old mummy—wrapped in animal hide and also positioned in the Lotus posture. However, before his death, he ordered his disciples to exhume him 30 years after his passing. Given these striking similarities between the two bodies, experts have hypothesized that the two-century-old mummy could be one of Itigilov's mentors. Yet no one can say with certainty.

On the other hand, while some researchers advance this hypothesis, Ganhugiyn Purevbata (founder of the Mongolian Institute of Buddhist Art and professor at the Buddhist University of Ulan Bator) insists the mummy belongs to a bronze-worker known as Sanjjab. According to this eminent artist and Buddhist monk, the latter lived between 1822 and 1905.

"This Monk Is Not Dead—He Has Been Meditating for 200 Years to Become Buddha!"

Religious experts are convinced the monk is not dead, but in a meditative trance state known as "Tukdam." Buddhist monk and professor at the Mongolian Institute of Buddhist Art, Barry Kerzin, explains in the Siberian Times that this state occurs when a monk meditates for more than three weeks. This physician close to the Dalai Lama adds that when this extremely rare phenomenon occurs, a rainbow shines for several days and the monk's disciples experience an inexplicable joy. This signifies he has found a "rainbow body" and is close to attaining the rank of Buddha.

Ganhugiyn Purevbata is equally convinced the mummy is not dead, noting that its left hand is "open, and the right symbolizes the sermon of the Lotus Sutra." This means the lama did not lose his life, but remains in profound meditation, according to the ancient Buddhist lama tradition, he adds.

To date, no other information has been disclosed about the mummy beyond its age and possible identity. According to the Siberian Times, it is being closely examined by scientists at the National Center of Forensic Medicine in Ulan Bator to learn more about its origins and secrets.

Charlène NomadaysAn SEO writer from Nomadays' earliest days, Charlène evolved into content manager and head of communications, accompanying the adventure from the start with passion and dedication. After spending seven years across Asia—from China to Thailand, through Mongolia and South Korea—she has made travel a way of being in the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she strives to convey in her writing a sensitive, engaged, and responsible vision of tourism. For her, each article is a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.